Queen Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in this HBO Films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Dee Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith
Virginia Johnson, Michele Byrd-McPhee, and More Recieve 2023 Bessie Awards - Full List of Awards Announced!
by Blair Ingenthron - August 05, 2023
The New York Dance and Performance Awards, the Bessies, has announced the 2023 award recipients at the 39th Bessie Awards Ceremony. The Illustrious Blacks hosted this year's celebratory event, which was held at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park as part of Lincoln Center's Summer for the City. Check out...
The Illustrious Blacks Will Host the Bessie Awards Ceremony
by Stephi Wild - July 26, 2023
The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, announce the lineup of special guests for the 39th Bessie Awards Ceremony. Acclaimed queer pop duo The Illustrious Blacks (Manchildblack x Monstah Black) will host this year’s ceremony, which will be held on Friday, August 4, at 7:30pm,...
The Bessies Reveal Recipients of Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance
by Stephi Wild - July 18, 2023
The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City’s premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, have announced that Virginia Johnson, founding member and former artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, will receive the 2023 Bessie Award for Lifet...
Laura Elrick to Produce BETTINGER'S LUGGAGE at AMT Theater
by Blair Ingenthron - May 27, 2023
Producer Laura Elrick, in association with AMT Theater has announced the opening of Bettinger's Luggage, by Al Tapper, scheduled to open in September of 2023 at the AMT Theater. ...
The Bessies Announce Nominees For 2023 Bessie Awards
by A.A. Cristi - May 25, 2023
The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, has announced the nominees for the 2023 Bessie Awards. This year's Bessie Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, August 4, at 7:30pm, at Lincoln Center's Dam...
WBTT Presents First 2023 Young Artist Program Showcase, Featuring Brentney J
by Stephi Wild - April 11, 2023
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will present the tenth year of its annual Young Artist Program, through which Troupe members can showcase their talents with self-produced, one-person shows. ...
Video: Jennifer Holliday Performs 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' From DREAMGIRLS on TAMRON HALL
by Michael Major - March 15, 2023
Jennifer Holliday, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning original star of Dreamgirls, appeared on Tamron Hall for a special performance of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.' Holliday won a Grammy Award for the performance of the show-stopping Dreamgirls song and her Tony Award for Best Actress ...
Review: THE OLD SETTLER at The Summit Playhouse-A Stirring Family Story with Humor and Heart
by Marina Kennedy - February 28, 2023
The Old Settler is on stage at The Summit Playhouse through March 11 and it’s a great opportunity to see a top-notch production....
Student Blog: Learning How To Improv Jazz
by Student Blogger: Katelyn Kruszewski - February 20, 2023
Jazz Improvisation has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. I’ve never felt incredibly comfortable scatting, but it’s something I hope to improve throughout the semester for performances and my own musical development....
World Premiere of THE FLIGHT Comes to Factory Theatre
by Stephi Wild - January 24, 2023
Theatre Gargantua is partnering with Queen Bess Productions, b current Performing Arts, and Roseneath Theatre on this exciting new production and world premiere of The Flight. ...
SISTAS! THE MUSICAL to Open at Teatro Wego in January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - December 28, 2022
Sistas the Musical will be presented by Jefferson Performing Arts Society for three weekends, from January 27 through February 12, 2023, at Teatro Wego....
The Bessies Announce Recipients of the 2022 NY DANCE AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS
by Blair Ingenthron - December 17, 2022
The NY Dance and Performance Awards, the Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, have announced the 2022 award recipients at the 38th annual Bessie Awards. Porshia A. Derival, Executive Director of H+ | TOTEM Productions, hosted this year's even...
Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox Comes To The Ridgefield Playhouse This Month
by Stephi Wild - December 02, 2022
Get ready for “A Very Postmodern Christmas”! The famed time-twisting musical collective, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, is heading back to The Ridgefield Playhouse for a vintage-style Christmas celebration! They'll take the stage on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 7:30pm....
Christine Jowers Will Receive A Bessie & Award for Achievement in Dance From ADG
by Stephi Wild - November 28, 2022
Christine Jowers, Founder/ Senior Contributor of the innovative dance website, The Dance Enthusiast, will be honored this year by two prestigious US dance institutions -- The American Dance Guild and The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, also known as the dance industry...
BLUES IS A WOMAN is in Concert at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage
by Stephi Wild - September 29, 2022
BLUES IS A WOMAN's inception was first workshopped at the Freight & Salvage in 2016. It made its theatrical debut in San Francisco in 2017, with a month long, sold out run and fantastic reviews. Now following a two year post-pandemic hiatus, show creator Pamela Rose is Re-launching BLUES IS A W...
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center Announces Fall and Holiday Jazz Series Featuring Musicians, Vocalists, Dancers & More
by Chloe Rabinowitz - August 25, 2022
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is offering a stellar series of jazz performances with more than two dozen musicians, vocalists, and dancers appearing in West Chester this September through December, hosted by local jazz and blues artist, Sara Michaels....
Scenic City Shakespeare In The Park Begins With LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST In May
by Stephi Wild - May 11, 2022
Scenic City Shakespeare has announced Greenway Farms in Hixson, TN as the inaugural location for their early summer outdoor Shakespeare series. ...
Photos: See Rosalie Craig, Indira Varma, Robert Bathurst & More at THE JOY OF TEXT West End Gala
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 26, 2022
Inspired by an hilarious exchange between her mum and brother that she has kept on her phone for years, film and theatre director Josie Rourke put together a fast, raucous and breathtaking “I can’t believe you typed that” evening in support of the Platform Presents Playwrights Prize....
Female Musicians Pay Tribute To Iconic Jazz Singers In Malibu
by Stephi Wild - March 18, 2022
Three dynamic vocalists and an all-female jazz band pay tribute to three of history's greatest jazz singers in the musical performance Bessie, Billie, & Nina—Pioneering Women in Jazz at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 8 p.m. ...
VIDEO: Meet The Women Of BLUES IN THE NIGHT At Porchlight Music Theatre
by Alan Henry - February 23, 2022
Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre latest mainstage production the “Best Musical” Tony Award-nominated Blues in the Night, conceived by Sheldon Epps, with the music of Bessie Smith, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Gordon Jenkins, Alberta Hunter and others, is now playing through Ma...
Female Pioneers Celebrated at Popejoy Hall
by A.A. Cristi - February 22, 2022
In a tribute honoring the musical legacies paved by Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, Bessie, Billie, and Nina: Pioneering Women in Jazz fills Popejoy Hall with the soundtrack of a social movement on Sunday, March 28 at 3 pm. ...
Jazz at Lincoln Center and 'Pioneering Women in Jazz' to Perform in Scottsdale This Spring
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 17, 2022
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has already welcomed some jazz greats to its stage this season, and there’s still more to come this spring, including a special presentation from Jazz at Lincoln Center on Sunday, March 6....
Parsons Theatre to Present Two Shows in Honor of Black History Month
by Marissa Tomeo - February 05, 2022
Northglenn Arts Presents, north metro’s professional performance series, celebrates Black History Month with two shows at the Parsons Theatre. This year features the musical storytelling of the History of African American Music Part 2 and the narrative of movement in One People, Many Voices. ...
TRAV'LIN – THE 1930s HARLEM MUSICAL ROMANCE Gets Regional Premiere at Winter Park Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - January 13, 2022
Trav'lin - The 1930s Harlem Musical Romance, a joyful celebration of love in the Jazz Age with a classic jazz and blues score, is receiving its Southeast regional premiere to kick off the Mainstage Series at Florida's Winter Park Playhouse. ...
VIDEO: Bridgerton Season 2 Gets Premiere Date; Plot Tease
by Robert Diamond - December 25, 2021
Bridgerton premiered one year ago today – Happy Anniversary, dear readers. To commemorate the occasion, Lady Whistledown has gotten her readers a very special gift: Bridgerton Season 2 shall premiere on March 25th, 2022, only on Netflix. ...
Videos